Dedicated to S.E.R.V.I.C.E
Sheriff Frank Reynolds From the Desk of
We are fortunate in Cherokee County to have a strong community who supports law enforcement efforts to keep crime out of our county. I appreciate the support you continue to give the men and women of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, as well as the time you’re taking now to look at what we accomplished in 2025.
In this annual report, you’ll see an emphasis on technology — criminals are using it more and more, and it’s important we stay at least one step ahead of them. In 2025, we remodeled the previous Shaw-Woodard Training Complex and created a Real Time Intelligence Center. This Center gives better communication and information to our deputies and special operations teams in the field. This is critical for solving cases like hit-and-run accidents and missing persons and for officer safety. We also have implemented technology enhancements in our response to dangerous incidents that require specialized teams like SWAT Drone First Responder and a Boston Dynamics Robotics’ Dog allow deputies to get eyes on a situation so they can properly plan and carry out that plan to enhance safety of the officer and the suspect.
I hope you find the information contained in this report to be educational and helpful. Thank you for allowing me to continue serving you as your Sheriff.
Command Staff
By The Numbers
493 POSITIONS
389 SWORN 104 CIVILIAN
60 NEW HIRES RECRUITED
299,460 RESIDENTS SERVED 434 SQUARE MILES COVERED
29 YEARS INT’L ACCREDITED
118,806 CALLS FOR SERVICE 1,971 WARRANTS SERVED 8,258 INMATES BOOKED IN 14,715 CIVIL PAPERS SERVED 4,165 ARRESTS
1,750 BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR CITIZENS 1,935 INVESTIGATIONS
16,299 OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS 539 AVG. DAILY JAIL POPULATION
Intelligence Division
The Intelligence Division serves as a force multiplier for Cherokee County by delivering timely, actionable, and reliable intelligence to support informed decision-making at all levels. The Division is comprised of the Intelligence Analysis Unit, Digital Forensics Unit, Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC), and Special Technologies, each working collaboratively to collect, analyze, and disseminate critical information.
Through advanced analytical methods, cutting-edge technology, and highly trained personnel, the Intelligence Division transforms data into insight that supports tactical operations, investigative priorities, and long-term strategic planning. The Intelligence Division plays a vital role in enhancing public safety and strengthening the overall effectiveness of law enforcement operations across the county.
Real Time Intelligence Center
The former Shaw-Woodard Training Complex has been remodeled to house the new Real Time Intelligence Center, a centralized location to support operations in the field. The RTIC was constructed in 2025, and the Intelligence Division moved into the location in January 2026. Since its inception, the RTIC has provided critical support in numerous public safety incidents, ranging from serious motor vehicle accidents and hit-and-run investigations to missing persons cases.
Special Operations
The Special Operations Division consists of several specialized support units that serve the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and local city agencies. These units play a critical role in ensuring the successful resolution of some of the most complex, high-risk, and demanding incidents and investigations.
Staffed by highly trained and dedicated professionals, the division includes the following units: Traffic Enforcement, K-9, Warrants/Civil Unit, Robotics and Drone Support, Crisis Negotiation, STRIKE Team, Crisis Response Unit, Motor Unit, Reserves, and the Cadet Program. The Special Operations Division is overseen by Captain Pete J. Turcotte.
Crisis Negotiation Team
Established in 1997, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiation Team, formerly known as the Hostage Negotiations Team, is a multi-agency unit comprised of members from the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Woodstock Police Department, Canton Police Department, Holly Springs Police Department, and Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
Selection for the team is rigorous. Members must demonstrate exceptional decision-making skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to remain calm and stable under extreme pressure.
The Crisis Negotiations Team responds to high-risk incidents involving barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and other critical events where communication and de-escalation are essential to achieving peaceful outcomes. The team is led by Sgt. Charles Westbrook.
Traffic Enforcement Unit
The Traffic Enforcement Unit is a specialized division dedicated to reducing traffic-related injuries and crashes through education, enforcement, and proactive safety initiatives. The unit is comprised of eight highly trained deputies who investigate serious injury and fatal crashes throughout Cherokee County. Many of these deputies hold state and national certifications in crash reconstruction.
In 2025, the Traffic Enforcement Unit investigated 232 crashes, including 82 injury crashes and 14 fatal crashes, as well as 75 hit-and-run cases. Deputies conducted 6,185 traffic stops, resulting in 152 DUI arrests and 467 total arrests. The unit issued 1,723 citations and 4,680 warnings.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit is led by Lieutenant John Brookshire.
Reserve Unit
The CSO Reserve Unit serves as the primary support branch for the general operations of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. While members primarily assist within the Uniform Patrol Division, they also contribute to the Training Division, Crime Scene Unit, Motor Unit, Adult Detention Center, and Warrant Unit. The Reserve Unit also provides traffic control for community events and other special assignments.
In 2025, Reserve Unit members volunteered a total of 2,011 hours, resulting in payroll savings exceeding $50,000 for the agency.
The unit also plays a vital role in community outreach. They coordinate the annual Christmas Joy program through a “Shop with a Cop” format, providing holiday gifts to local families and seniors. In 2025, the Christmas Joy program served 302 children and 100 elderly citizens throughout the county.
Funeral Escort Unit
The Funeral Escort Unit is comprised of four deputies who provide escorts for the majority of funeral processions throughout Cherokee County. This unit serves as a valuable asset in honoring and paying respect to loved ones being laid to rest at the Georgia National Cemetery and other cemeteries across the county. In 2025, the unit assisted with approximately 500 funerals in Cherokee County. By managing funeral escorts, the unit allows patrol deputies to remain available for dispatched calls and routine patrol duties, ensuring continued public safety while maintaining a dignified service for grieving families.
STRIKE Team
The STRIKE Team is responsible for managing, organizing, operating, and deploying the Sheriff’s Office fleet of specialty vehicles and equipment. This includes:
The team plays a vital support role at serious crime scenes, tactical operations, natural disasters, mutual aid responses, and community outreach events. Under the direction of the Special Operations Commander, the STRIKE Team ensures that personnel have the equipment and logistical support necessary to operate safely and effectively in complex situations.
Warrant & Civil Unit
The Warrant & Civil Unit performs many of the constitutionally mandated duties of the Sheriff’s Office. These responsibilities include processing and executing court orders and legal documents.
The unit also arranges felony extraditions and works closely with the District Attorney’s Office, Solicitor-General, Probation, Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Clerk of Court, and law enforcement agencies across Georgia and the United States. There are currently nine deputies assigned to the Warrant & Civil Unit.
Rescue Vehicle
Vehicles Mobile Command Post
K-9
The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit has operated as a full-time division since 1989. The unit currently consists of eight highly trained K-9 teams specializing in tracking, explosive detection, narcotics detection, and patrol operations. These teams play a critical role in supporting law enforcement efforts and enhancing public safety throughout the community. The K-9 Unit is led by Sgt. Jared Jordan, who oversees training, deployment, and operational readiness.
Motor Unit
The Motor Unit started in the fall of 2002 to take advantage of the ability motorcycles have in maneuvering through congested areas. Motorcycles are a valuable resource for enforcing traffic violations. Additional benefits of the Motor Unit are representation of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office at law enforcement funerals and provides funeral escorts for various high-profile funerals.
SWAT
The Cherokee Multi-Agency Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was established in 1997. Originally comprised of 11 members, the team has grown to include 43 highly trained public safety professionals selected from the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Woodstock Police Department, Holly Springs Police Department, and Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services (CCFES).
The Cherokee SWAT Team responds to critical incidents that present serious threats to life and public safety, as well as situations where advanced tactical skills are required to achieve a safe and successful resolution.
Selection to the team is rigorous. Prospective members must complete an extensive skills assessment process that evaluates:
Physical Fitness • Advanced Firearms Proficiency • Decision-Making Ability • Composure Under High-Stress and Less-Than-Ideal Conditions
SWAT Medic Team
In partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services implemented and sustains a five-person SWAT Medic Team. These specialized firefighter/paramedics operate in hostile and austere environments, providing immediate point-of-wound care and Advanced Life Support capabilities to officers, civilians, or others without delay.
Ongoing Training & Service
All team members perform SWAT duties in addition to their regular assignments within their respective agencies. Members are required to attend ongoing training and are encouraged to pursue advanced and specialized instruction to continuously enhance team capabilities.
The Cherokee SWAT Team also provides mutual aid and assistance to county, state, and federal agencies when requested.
Precinct/Facility Map
Organizational Chart
Uniform Patrol Division
The Uniform Patrol Division is the most visible division of the Sheriff’s Office. To best serve the community, the coverage area is divided into East and West divisions and further organized by precinct.
Captain Todd Shinall serves as the Uniform Patrol Division West Commander and oversees the Bridgemill Sixes, Oak Grove, and Waleska precincts.
Captain Chris Sims serves as the Uniform Patrol Division East Commander and oversees the Ball Ground, Freehome, and Hickory Flat precincts.
Bridgemill Sixes: Serves the area west of I-575 between Eagle Drive and Ga. 20.
770-479-4766 | 9550 Bells Ferry Rd.
Oak Grove: Serves the area west of I-575 and south of Eagle Dr. and Kellogg Creek Rd.
770-529-7302 | 100 Ridge Mill Ct.
Waleska: Serves the area west of I-575 and north of Ga. 20.
770-479-0451 | 9081 Fincher Rd.
Ball Ground: Serves the area west of I-575 to Lower/Upper Burris to Ga. 108 to Pickens County and east of I-575 from Canton north to the Etowah River to Pickens County.
770-720-7079 | 1190 Evenflo Dr.
Freehome: Serves the area east of I-575, north of Ga. 140 and west of Batesville Road.
770-884-6777 | 9253 Freehome Hwy.
Hickory Flat: Serves the area east of I-575 from the Cobb County line to Ga. 140 and south of Ga. 140 East to Fulton County.
770-479-4555 | 7675 Vaughn Rd.
The Road to Excellence
The Sheriff’s Office continues to maintain the Triple Crown Award from the National Sheriff’s Association. The road to get to this top-level of recognition started many years ago in 1996 with setting the bar high for the service we deliver, the policies we abide by, and technology we use to solve, and more importantly, prevent crime in Cherokee County. We continue to raise the bar set three decades ago to stay at the forefront of crime prevention and crime fighting technologies while maintaining our community connection through Community Oriented Policing strategies.
The Triple Crown award is bestowed to the small percentage of sheriff’s offices across the nation that earn accreditation from the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation (CALEA), the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC), and the American Correctional Association (ACA).
Administrative Services
Administrative Services is a support division that ensures the Sheriff’s Office operates efficiently. It includes the Evidence and Property Unit, Quartermaster, Human Resources, Recruiting, Accreditation, Central Records, Payroll, Fleet Management, IT/ RMS, and Open Records.
Recruiting
The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Recruiting Team serves as the main point of contact for individuals interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement with the agency. As the gateway to employment opportunities within the Sheriff’s Office, the recruiting team plays a critical role in identifying, engaging, and guiding qualified applicants who demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to public service.
$190,000
EDUCATION & TRAINING
$8 MILLION OPERATING COSTS
$884,000 FUEL
$853,000 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE $770,000 INMATE FOOD
$66.2 MILLION
$14.1 MILLION BENEFITS
$6.45 MILLION INMATE MEDICAL
$35 MILLION SALARIES
Detention Center
Facility
The Adult Detention Center has a housing capacity of 1,113 inmates, including individuals arrested by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Marshal’s Office, and the city police departments of Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, and Woodstock.
The facility is accredited by both the American Correctional Association (ACA) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), demonstrating its commitment to maintaining high standards in safety, security, and inmate care.
Operations
The Adult Detention Center is managed by a major and two captains. Captain James Cox oversees the four operational shifts that supervise various areas of the facility. Captain Irene Ruiz manages support services, including facility maintenance, inmate transportation, inmate information, and classification.
In 2025, staff completed 1,819 inmate transports and devoted 4,320 hours supervising inmates at local hospitals. The average daily population of the jail in 2025 was 539 inmates.
The Adult Detention Center also provides programming designed to help inmates develop skills that support successful reintegration into the community upon release.
Health and Wellness Resource Fair & Career Expo
To support inmate re-entry efforts, Adult Detention Center staff hosted a Health and Wellness Resource Fair featuring more than a dozen organizations that provided information about available services. Additionally, more than two dozen organizations and second-opportunity employers participated in a Career Expo, offering job opportunities and employment resources to inmates preparing for release.
Education
Many inmates use their time in custody to pursue educational opportunities.
385 inmates participated in creative writing classes
26 inmates earned their GED
112 inmates took part in entrepreneurship classes
13 inmates graduated from Cherokee FORGE
Cherokee FORGE is a 23-week re-entry program designed to equip inmates with education, life skills, and community resources to support successful reintegration.
Inmates also checked out more than 5,900 books from the facility library, reflecting strong participation in educational and personal development initiatives.
Communications & Community Relations
The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Communications & Community Relations Office utilizes both traditional and social media to keep the community informed. Community Relations works with every department within the agency to better inform and connect with the public.
Information at Your Fingertips
SCAN TO DOWNLOAD
• Road Closures
• Wanted Suspects
• Missing People
• Weather Alerts
• Traffic Alerts
You can also use the app to:
• Submit a Tip
• Search Inmates in the ADC
• Jail Services
• Records Requests
The app is available for download in the App Store and Google Play Store. Scan the QR code or search Cherokee Sheriff’s Office in the store on your device.
Community Programming
Citizen’s Academy
An eight-week program giving residents an inside look on CSO operations.
Christmas Joy
A program operated by the Reserve Unit that provides toys at Christmas to children in need and sundries to seniors in need.
Co-Response Team
A partnership with Highland Rivers Behavioral Health to provide immediate services and follow up contact to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
CSO Public Safety Cadets
This program is chartered by the Public Safety Cadet Organization geared at mentoring young adults in order to help them become contributing members of the community.
CSO Camera Connect
A partnership with citizens and businesses enabling the community and law enforcement the ability to work together to solve crimes.
Neighborhood Watch
Precinct commanders assist neighborhoods to set up and maintain watch programs.
Project Lifesaver
A program for residents who wander due to medical or mental health conditions.
RUOK Program
A free service to senior citizens and residents with disabilities of Cherokee County providing a daily check-in phone call.
Training Division
The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Training Division is committed to delivering realistic, relevant, and high-quality training to all CSO employees. The division coordinates training for all personnel, both in-house and at external facilities, ensuring deputies and staff remain prepared to serve the community effectively.
The Training Division is responsible for developing and delivering in-service training, as well as conducting comprehensive new hire orientation programs. The Roger Garrison Law Enforcement Training Center serves as a key training facility and is utilized by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
In addition, the agency partners with Reinhardt University, Columbus State University, and the University of North Georgia to provide deputies with opportunities to further their education and professional development.
420 CLASSES
20 AGENCIES
4,930 DEPUTIES & LEOs
Criminal Investigations Division
The CSO Criminal Investigations Division (CID), operating under Field Operations, is a specialized, stand-alone division responsible for the comprehensive investigation of criminal activity. CID personnel respond to crime scenes and conduct thorough investigations that may span weeks, months, or even years to ensure successful case resolutions. CID is supported by a full-time Crime Scene Specialist and a dedicated Intelligence Analyst. Together, they ensure the Division remains at the forefront of modern investigative techniques and best practices, enhancing its ability to effectively serve and protect the community.
Narcotics
The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) is one of the premier narcotics squads in Georgia. The law enforcement professionals assigned to CMANS have been extremely successful in their efforts to combat drug trafficking in Cherokee and Pickens counties. Their success is due, in large part, to the continued commitment and support of the participating task force agencies, as well as the assistance of the citizens of Cherokee and Pickens counties. CMANS seized over $9 million worth of drugs in 2025.
CMANS CONTROL BOARD
Sheriff Frank Reynolds
Cherokee Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Donnie Craig
Pickens Sheriff’s Office
Chief Jamie Gianfala
Ball Ground Police
Chief Marty Ferrell
Canton Police
Chief Tommy Keheley
Holly Springs Police
Chief Roland Castro
Woodstock Police
Chief Buster Cushing
Cherokee County School Police
Chief Dana Martin
Cherokee Marshal’s Office
SFC PJ Haney
Georgia State Patrol
Office of Professional Standards
The Office of Professional Standards, commonly known as Internal Affairs, is responsible for ensuring accountability and maintaining the integrity of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. It is the policy of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office to thoroughly investigate all complaints of alleged employee misconduct in order to determine whether the allegations are valid or unfounded and to take appropriate follow-up action when necessary.
In 2025, a total of 54 allegations, inquiries, and commendations were filed with the Office of Professional Standards. The office is responsible for reviewing and investigating both complaints against deputies and commendations recognizing exemplary performance.
Court Security
The Court Security Division is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all visitors and employees of the Cherokee County Courthouse. In 2025, the courthouse camera and panic alarm system were updated, which provides more coverage for the Justice Center campus. Court Security is working with the county management to add additional parking, as well as expand and renovate the current Justice Center campus. In 2025, 152,954 people entered the Justice Center to conduct court-related business.
2025 Retirements
